Mounting bracket

ABSTRACT

An improved mounting bracket that provides an indication to an installer when a mount is not correctly aligned. The mounting bracket comprises a mounting contact portion and at least one side portion integrally connected to the mounting contact portion, with the at least one side portion defining a receiving region for accepting one or more retaining portions of a mount. The at least one side portion includes a first ramped surface at least partially outside of the receiving region. The first ramped surface configured to contact a retaining portion when the retaining portion is misaligned with the receiving region, thereby informing an installer of the misalignment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/541,343, filed Sep. 29, 2006, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 60/727,105, filed Oct. 14, 2005. Thecontents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to mounting brackets. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to brackets that are used inconjunction with systems for mounting devices such as flat paneltelevisions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, flat-panel televisions have become enormously popularin both the commercial and the residential sectors. As the prices forplasma and liquid crystal display (LCD) flat panel displays havecontinued to fall, and as the quality for the same devices haveimproved, more and more business and individuals have purchased suchdevices both for business and home entertainment purposes.

One of the advantages of flat-panel television units that customers havefound particular appealing is their relatively low thickness. Becauseconventional “tube” televisions have a relatively large depth, thedisplay options for such devices are quite limited. In the residentialsetting, most users require a television stand or large entertainmentcenter to store the television. Such stands or entertainment centers cantake up significant floor space, which is often undesirable. In thecommercial or educational setting, users will often install largeoverhead mounting systems that can contain the television. However,these systems usually require professional installation and, once thetelevision is secured in the mount, it is often very difficult to accessand adjust due to its height.

With flat-panel televisions, on the other hand, users are presented witha relatively new option: mounting the television directly to a wall. Bymounting the television to a wall, a person can eliminate the need totake up potentially valuable floor space with a television stand orentertainment unit.

Although the introduction of flat-panel televisions on a wide scale haspresented new opportunities to both residential and commercialcustomers, it has also presented new challenges. In particular, flatpanel televisions, while usually having a significantly smaller depth orprofile than conventional tube televisions, tend to be quite heavy.Particularly for flat panel televisions with large screens, this weightcan become also prohibitively great. With such large weights involved,it is especially important that users can easily, safely, and securelymount the devices without having to make substantial adjustments.Furthermore, with such weights involved and the high costs of suchdevices, it is extremely important that the device be mounted correctlyon the first attempt; if the device is not correctly mounted on thefirst try, there is a high risk of damaging the device and causinginjury to those installing it.

With the above considerations in mind, there have been various attemptsto develop mounting systems that address these concerns. However, eachsystem still maintains serious drawbacks. A number of such systemsinvolve the use of mounting brackets that are attached to either thetelevision or to the wall. Prior art FIG. 1 shows one such arrangement,where a prior art mounting bracket 10, which is fixedly secured to aflat panel television 12, must properly mate with first and secondretaining portions 14 and 16 of a wall-attached mount. For a propermating, an upper cavity 18 of the mounting bracket 10 captures the firstretaining portion 14, while a lower protrusion is positioned immediatelybelow the second retaining portion 16. However, and as depicted in priorart FIG. 2, if the user slightly misaligns the mounting bracket 10 suchthat the protrusion 22 is positioned above the second retaining portion16, then the upper cavity 18 will not receive the first retainingportion 14 due to the impeding of the second retaining portion 16.During this process, the installer must essentially perform this matingwhile “blind” in that he or she cannot see the position of the first andsecond retaining portions 14 and 16. As a result, he or she may not knowthat the upper cavity 18 has not captured the first retaining portion 14and, if the user lets go of the flat panel television 12, it is likelyto fall, causing substantial damage to the flat panel television 12 andpotential injury to the installer and/or bystanders. The same problemcan occur if the mounting bracket 10 is attached to the wall and themount is attached to the flat panel television 12.

It would therefore be desirable to develop a system where an installercould quickly and easily determine whether the various mount componentsare correctly aligned during the installation process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for an improved mounting bracket whichprovides clear information to an installer when the mounting bracket andthe remainder of the mount are not properly aligned. A system of thepresent invention includes one or more ramping surfaces extending awayfrom the correct mounting positions on the mounting bracket. The rampingsurface or surfaces may either be formed as part of the respectivemounting brackets, or the ramping surfaces may comprise separatecomponents that are attached to the mounting bracket. If the mountingbracket is positioned too high and/or too low relative to the rest ofthe mount, one of the mount's retaining portions will come into contactwith a ramp. The contact of the ramp against the retaining portion willcause the mounting bracket to slide, providing a clear indication to theuser that the mounting bracket is not properly aligned with theretaining portions.

With the present invention, the possibility of a mounting bracket beingmisaligned relative to the retaining portions is greatly reduced. As aresult, the likelihood of a flat panel television falling and causingsignificant damage and/or bodily injury is also diminished.

These and other advantages and features of the invention, together withthe organization and manner of operation thereof, will become apparentfrom the following detailed description when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein like elements have like numeralsthroughout the several drawings described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view showing the correct mating of a priorart mounting bracket with retaining portions of a mounting system;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the mounting arrangement of FIG. 1,where the prior art mounting bracket is incorrectly mated to theretaining portions;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mounting bracket constructed inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6( a) is a sectional side view showing the circumstances involvedwhen a mounting bracket of the present invention is misaligned with theretaining portions of a mounting system in a first manner, and FIG. 6(b) is a sectional side view showing the circumstances involved when amounting bracket of the present invention is misaligned with theretaining portions of a mounting system in a second manner;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a pair of mounting bracketsconstructed according the principles of the present invention whencorrectly mated with the remainder of a mounting system;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a mount bracket constructed inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a mount bracket constructed inaccordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a mounting systemincluding a mounting bracket constructed in accordance with a fourthembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 11 is a side view of a mounting system including a mounting bracketconstructed in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 3-5 show a mounting bracket 100 constructed according to oneembodiment of the present invention. A mounting bracket 100 according tothe present invention can take a variety of shapes. For example, themounting bracket may be elongated, such as in the manner shown in FIGS.3-7, or it may comprises a broader plate, as is shown in FIGS. 8-10.Each mounting bracket 100 of the present invention comprises a mountingcontact portion 102 and one or more side portions 104. The side portions104, in a particular embodiment of the invention, are substantiallyperpendicular to the mounting contact portion 102. In other embodiments,it is also possible for the side portions 104 to be at anon-perpendicular angle to the mounting contact portion 102. In oneembodiment of the invention, the mounting contact portion 102 and thepair of side portions 104 are formed as a single piece of material, suchas aluminum or steel. In other embodiments, it is also possible for thecontact portion 102 and the side portions 104 to be formed as separatecomponents which are later coupled together.

The mounting contact portion 102 includes a plurality of mounting slots106 formed therein. The mounting slots 106 are used to couple themounting bracket 100 to a flat panel display (not shown) in oneembodiment of the invention. Alternatively, the mounting slots 106 maybe used to couple the mounting bracket 100 to a wall or other surface ina different embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIGS. 3-4, the mounting bracket 100 includes an upper hook108 and a lower guiding portion 110 on each side portion 104, whichtogether define a receiving region 112 for first and second retainingportions 14 and 16 (shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B). It should be noted thatthe first and second retaining portions 14 and 16 can comprise separatebars, or they can simply constitutes different portions of the samecomponent. The upper hook 108 defines an upper indentation 118 forreceiving the first retaining portion 14. The upper hook 108 is formedon each of the side portions 104 at substantially the same position.Each upper hook 108 and/or guiding portion 110 may be formed as onepiece with the rest of the mounting bracket 100 or, alternatively, eachupper hook 108 and/or guiding portion 110 may comprise a separatecomponent which is coupled to the mounting bracket 100 in theappropriate position.

The guiding portion 110, which is positioned below the upper hook 108 inone embodiment of the invention, includes a longitudinal surface 120.The longitudinal surface 120 may comprise the same type of material asthe rest of the mounting bracket 100 and may be welded to the pair ofside portions 104 or fastened in other conventionally-known manners. Theguiding portion 110 may also terminate at a slight indentation 111 sizedfor receiving a retaining portion, as is discussed below.

Both the upper hook 108 and the guiding portion 110 are spaced apartfrom each other at a distance such that the first and second retainingportions 14 and 16 of the type shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 6(a), 6(b) and 7 canfit therebetween. More particularly, when properly mated, the firstretaining portion 14 fits snugly within the upper hook 108, while thesecond retaining portion 16 rests on the guiding portion 110.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, for each sideportion 104, the upper hook 108 includes one or more upper rampingsurfaces 122 on the outside thereof. Each upper ramping surface 122 isformed as part of the side portions 104 in one particular embodiment ofthe invention. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the upperramping surface 122 is formed as one or more separate component, whichare then coupled to the mounting bracket 100 at a desired location. Inthe embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-7, the upper ramping surface 122includes a gradual but noticeable curve as it approaches a lowerprofile, recessed portion 124 of the side portion 104. However, itshould also be noted that each upper ramping surface 122 can possessvarious levels of curvature, or it could have no curvature at all.

Similarly and according to one embodiment of the present invention, foreach side portion 104, one or more lower ramping surfaces 126 arepositioned immediately below the guiding portion 110. Each lower rampingsurface 126 is formed as part of the side portions 104 in one particularembodiment of the invention. In an alternative embodiment of theinvention, each upper ramping surface 126 is formed as one or moreseparate component, which are then coupled to the mounting bracket 100at a desired location. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-7, each lowerramping surface 126 includes a gradual but noticeable curve as itapproaches the lower profile, recessed portion 124 of the side portion104. However, it should also be noted that each lower ramping surface126 can possess various levels of curvature, or each lower rampingsurface 126 could have no curvature at all.

According to the present invention, each upper ramping surface 122 andeach lower ramping surface 126 are angled such that, if a mount isincorrectly aligned either the first retaining portion 14 will contactan upper ramping surface 122 or the second retaining portion 16 willcontact a lower ramping surface 126. FIGS. 6( a) and 6(b) show two suchscenarios where misalignment occurs. In FIG. 6( b), the flat paneldisplay and mounting bracket 100 or brackets are positioned too lowrelative to the mount. In this scenario, the receiving region 112accepts the first retaining portion 14 therein. However, as the flatpanel television or other device moves toward the mount, the secondretaining portion 16 comes into direct contact with the lower rampingsurfaces 126. As a result of this contact, the flat panel televisioncannot be oriented substantially upright relative to the floor, and thelower ramping surfaces 126 will cause the mounting bracket 100 orbrackets (and the attached flat panel television) to slide along thelower ramping surface 126. Therefore, the installer is provided with aclear indication that the flat panel television or other device is notcorrectly positioned for mounting. Because the installer's view of themount and the mounting bracket 100 or brackets is blocked by the flatpanel display, this feature provides the installer with valuableinformation which otherwise may not be available to him or her.

It should be noted that the term “ramping surface” as discussed hereinshould not be interpreted as requiring that the surface in question beangled by any specified amount relative to other components. Instead,this term should be understood as only requiring some form of offsetthat would inform a user of a misalignment as discussed herein.

FIG. 6( a) shows the scenario where the flat panel display and mountingbracket 100 or brackets are positioned too high relative to the mount.In this scenario, the receiving region 112 accepts the second retainingportion 16 therein. However, as the flat panel television or otherdevice moves toward the mount, the first retaining portion 14 comes intodirect contact with the upper ramping surfaces 122. As a result of thiscontact, the flat panel television cannot be oriented substantiallyupright relative to the floor, and the upper ramping surface 122 willcause the mounting bracket 100 or brackets (and the attached flat paneltelevision) to slide along the upper ramping surfaces 122. Therefore,the installer once again is provided with a clear indication that theflat panel television or other device is not correctly positioned formounting.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a representative mounting system 200where two mounting brackets constructed according to the presentinvention are correctly attached to the first and second retainingportions 14 and 16. In the mounting system of FIG. 7, two mountingbrackets 100 are used and are configured to cooperatively support a flatpanel television or display. However, it is also possible to use feweror more mounting brackets 100 depending upon the size of the flat paneltelevision being supported. It is additionally possible for the mountingbrackets 100 to support devices other than flat panel televisions asnecessary or desired. Still further, it is also possible for themounting brackets 100 to be secured to a wall, while the remainder ofthe mounting system 200 is secured to the back of a device. It is alsopossible for the mounting bracket 100 or brackets comprise intermediateinterface members which do not directly attach to the back of thedevice. For example, the mounting bracket 100 or brackets can attachedto another interface member, which in turn couples direct to the back ofa device.

In the mounting system 200 of FIG. 7, the mounting brackets 100 havecorrectly accepted the first and second retaining portions 14 and 16.The first and second retaining portions 14 and 16 are operativelyconnected to each other via a plurality of retaining portion plates 202.In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, two of the retaining portion plates202 are rotatably connected to a base plate 204 via a plurality ofrolling pins 206. However, it should be noted that other components,such as gliders (not shown), may also be used to effectuate thisconnection. Furthermore, it is also possible for this connection to befixed and not capable of any rotation at all. The base plate 204 can becoupled to a wall mounting plate (not shown) for securement to a wall orother mounting surface (not shown). Alternatively, the base plate 204can be directly secured to the wall or other mounting surface.

FIG. 8 shows a mounting bracket 300 constructed in accordance with asecond embodiment of the present invention. The mounting bracket 300 ofFIG. 8 is similar to the mounting bracket 100 of FIGS. 3-7. However, themounting bracket 300 of FIG. 8 includes a substantially larger mountingcontact portion 102 than that shown in FIGS. 3-7. Additionally, itshould be noted that the upper and lower ramping surfaces 122 and 126are substantially straight in nature and include no substantialcurvature.

FIG. 9 shows a mounting bracket 400 constructed in accordance with athird embodiment of the present invention. Unlike the embodiments shownin FIGS. 3-8, the mounting bracket 400 of FIG. 9 does not include anyside portions whatsoever. Instead, the upper and lower ramping surfaces122 and 126 are formed directly out of the top and bottom of themounting contact portion 102. It should be noted that the upper andlower ramping surfaces 122 and 126 can also be formed from separatecomponents which are then coupled to the mounting contact portion 102.

FIG. 10 shows a mounting system 500 constructed according to stillanother embodiment of the present invention. The mounting system 500 ofFIG. 10 includes a screen mounting plate 502 that is used to couple adisplay unit 504 to an interface assembly 506. The interface assembly506 includes upper ramps 122 and lower ramps 126 as discussed above, andis also configured to attach to a wall plate 508 which attaches to awall (not shown). In this embodiment, retaining portions 510 are formedfrom the wall plate 508. FIG. 11 shows another mounting system 600comprising a similar embodiment of the present invention.

The foregoing description of embodiments of the present invention havebeen presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to theprecise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible inlight of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of thepresent invention. For example, all of the individual items whichtogether make up a mounting bracket 100 may be formed from a singlepiece of material, or they can be formed as different components whichare subsequent coupled to each other using conventional processes. It isalso possible for various components to be rotated by ninety degrees,i.e., so that the side portions 104 are located on the top and bottom ofthe mounting bracket 100, for example. The embodiments were chosen anddescribed in order to explain the principles of the present inventionand its practical application to enable one skilled in the art toutilize the present invention in various embodiments and with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

1. A mounting bracket for mounting an audio/visual device to awall-attached mount, comprising: a mounting contact portion configuredto operatively attach to the audio/visual device, the mounting contactportion defining a longitudinal axis; an upper ramping surface extendingoutwardly from the mounting contact portion and disposed substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis, the upper ramping surface defining anincline terminating in a hook configured to accept a first retainingportion of the wall-attached mount; and a receiving region extendingsubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and configured toreceive, proximate the mounting contact portion and the hook, the firstretaining portion of the wall-attached mount, wherein the upper rampingsurface is configured to contact the first retaining portion of thewall-attached mount to indicate a misalignment between the mountingbracket and the wall-attached mount.
 2. The mounting bracket of claim 1,further comprising a lower ramping surface extending outwardly from themounting contact portion and disposed substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis, the lower ramping surface defining an inclineterminating at a lower guiding portion opposite the upper hook, whereinone of the upper ramping surface and lower ramping surface is configuredto contact one of the first retaining portion and a second retainingportion of the wall-attached mount when only the other of the firstportion and the second portion is received by the receiving region toindicate a misalignment between the mounting bracket and thewall-attached mount.
 3. The mounting bracket of claim 2, wherein theupper ramping surface and the lower ramping surface are each inclinedtoward the receiving region such that the upper ramping surface and thelower ramping surface are substantially increasingly displaced from themounting contact portion as the upper ramping surface and the lowerramping surface approach the receiving region.
 4. The mounting bracketof claim 2, further comprising at least one side portion attached to themounting contact portion, wherein the upper ramping surface and thelower ramping surface are associated with the at least one side portion.5. The mounting bracket of claim 4, further comprising a recessedportion in the at least one side portion proximate the lower guidingportion, the recessed portion configured to engage the second retainingportion.
 6. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein the mountingbracket is selectively moveable in relation to the wall-attached mountin a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis whenthe first retaining portion and the second retaining portion arereceived by the receiving region.
 7. The mounting bracket of claim 1,wherein the misalignment between the mounting bracket and thewall-attached mount is identified by one of an upward and a downwardtilt of the mounting bracket about a substantially horizontal axis.
 8. Amounting bracket for mounting an audio/visual device to a surface, themounting bracket adapted to provide misalignment indicia betweenassembly of the mounting bracket and a wall-attached mount secured tothe mounting surface, comprising: a mounting contact portion configuredto operatively couple to the audio/visual device; a pair of sidesurfaces extending substantially perpendicular from the mounting contactportion, each of the pair of side surfaces defining an upper rampingsurface variably elevated in relation to the mounting contact portionalong the length of the upper ramping surface; and a receiving regionlocated along a portion of the pair of side surfaces defining areceiving aperture proximate the upper ramping surface opposite themounting contact portion and configured to receive a portion of thewall-attached mount, wherein the upper ramping surface and the receivingregion are configured to associate with the portion of the wall-attachedmount such that the misalignment indicia is indicative of misalignmentbetween the receiving portion and the portion of the wall-attachedmount.
 9. The mounting bracket of claim 8, wherein the upper rampingsurface includes a hook portion proximate the receiving region.
 10. Themounting bracket of claim 8, wherein each of the pair of side surfacesfurther define a lower ramping surface variably elevated in relation tothe mounting contact portion along the length of the lower rampingsurface.
 11. The mounting bracket of claim 10, wherein the lower rampingsurface includes a lower guiding portion proximate the receiving regionand orientated substantially perpendicular to the mounting contactportion.
 12. The mounting bracket of claim 9, wherein the hook portionpartially extends into the receiving region.
 13. The mounting bracket ofclaim 8, wherein the upper ramping surface and the lower ramping surfaceare each characterized by a maximum elevation proximate the receivingregion.
 14. The mounting bracket of claim 8, wherein the mountingbracket is selectively moveable in a substantially horizontal directionalong the wall-attached mount.
 15. The mounting bracket of claim 8,wherein the misalignment indicia comprises one of an upward tilt and adownward tilt of the audio/visual device about a substantiallyhorizontal axis.
 16. A method of mounting an audio/visual device to awall-attached mount secured to a mounting surface, comprising: bringingat least one mounting bracket operatively attached to the audio/visualdevice into proximity with the wall-attached mount, the at least onemounting bracket including an upper ramping surface and a receivingregion located opposite the audio/visual device and proximate the upperramping surface; contacting the at least one mounting bracket with thewall-attached mount, the wall-attached mount including at least oneretaining portion receivable by the receiving region to assemble the atleast one mounting bracket and the wall-attached mount; identifying anindicia of a substantially vertical misalignment between the assembly ofthe at least one mounting bracket and the wall-attached mount; movingthe upper ramping surface in relation to the at least one retainingportion in one of a substantially upward and a substantially downwarddirection until the at least one retaining portion is received in thereceiving portion to align the at least one mounting bracket with thewall-attached mount.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the indiciacomprises a tilt of the audio/visual device about a substantiallyhorizontal axis resulting from contact between the at least oneretaining portion and one of the lower ramping surface and the upperramping surface.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least onemounting bracket further includes a lower ramping surface and proximatethe receiving region.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the at leastone mounting bracket comprises a plurality of mounting brackets, each ofthe plurality of mounting brackets defining a substantially verticallongitudinal axis.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least oneretaining portion comprises a first retaining portion and a secondretaining portion, the first retaining portion and the second retainingportion substantially parallel and orientated substantially transverseto the substantially vertical longitudinal axes.